Old Newbie - Needs bringing up to speed!

[Panzerbuilder]

Evening.

Just joined the Tcat forum as I have just got back into biking after around 25 years! Had the mid life crisis and bought a second hand YZF600 2 weeks ago. Its a little different from what I remember my 350 YPVS LC used to be like. But then again it my be my aging brain.

Anyway after purchasing the full clothing range from Hein Gericke I am ready for anything. Including the zer / one degree ride into work this morning. (16 miles)

As stated I'm back in the saddle but a bit out of date with bike related issues so could do with some hints or tips to get me back up to speed. (Plus some miles on the clock)

My initial dilemma is whether to get an alarm fitted. Comments please. (I have the chain and disk locks already)

Anyway I'll peruse the site and see what I can find.

Regards Rich.

[yamahamad]

Hi & welcome rich good choice of bike to return to lots of fun & fairly quick but not too mental. If you do want an alarm get a good one & have it professionally installed i have seen a few people stranded in the middle of nowhere with cheap alarms going off or immobilisers activated. In my opinion no one takes any notice of an alarm going off though & you are better off with a good chain & a ground anchor. What colour & year is the cat? post up a picture or two in members bikes. Again welcome. Paul.

[Rosco]

Hi Rich and welcome to the site. You've made a great choice of bike and I'm sure you'll get back into the swing of things just fine.

I got my alarm (which I inherited with the bike) removed last year as it gave me nothing but grief and eventually the keyfob died which left me no option.

Do your very best to avoid disklock forgetfulness.

That is why I have a black front mudguard now.

Cheers
Rosco

[Panzerbuilder]

Paul,

Thanks for the quick response. I've seen some forums with the "immobilised" bikes so was debating, especially after forking out for the lock and chain, ground anchor and disk lock.

The Cats a 2001 model, 18000 miles and is black and silver. Bought off ebay for £1800.

I posted a photo taken today at work already. One of the blokes at work does drawings, mainly cars but I thought i'd get the bike done. When he's finished I upload the picture. It might be a few weeks though.

Just one thing though, its bloody good to get back in the saddle!

TTFN, Rich.

[SteveCat]

Hi Rich, welcome.

I had my alarm taken out last week. unless your insurance insists you have one, I wouldn't bother

-Steve

[Guest]

Hi rich,

Welcome to the site - not a billion miles from me. I inherited the alarm with my bike - what a pain in the jacksy it's turned out to be - only time it doesn't go off for no reason is when its in blinking ferry or service mode. Only reason its still there is cos i'm too tight to fork out the £80 i've been quoted by about 4 different places to take the darn thing out!!!

TBH it doesn't even make any difference on my insurance having it to not having either as i got a quote for if i did have it removed!
Anyway, enjoy - hope to see you on a ride out - Taste of Lincolnshire would be fairly near for you

Suzie

[Panzerbuilder]

Thanks for the offer Suzie,

One never knows, I might be able to get rid of the kids and get across the bridge sometime this year. And peruse the Lincolnshire scenery!

But knowing our weather it will be another wet one or just sunny for the 3 days a week, tuesday thro' Thursday!

TTFN, Rich.

[andyb]

Welcome too the site

Like most people, my alarm was already on the bike, I had it removed just before coz it kept going off for no reason

[Toni]

Welcome aboard

Heard a lot in our forum about the alarm-thing - most of them take it out or wouldn't do that again :idea:

I just have a good disk lock (with a disk lock reminder because of my age )

[Guest]

I just have a good disk lock (with a disk lock reminder because of my age )

snap Toni

[SteveCat]

Its a little different from what I remember my 350 YPVS LC used to be like.

Nice bike (heavens that takes me back to the late 70's ), the 'Cat is bigger, heavier but more maneuverable. You've probably forgotten your RD had no engine braking, a bit different on a 4-stroke

As stated I'm back in the saddle but a bit out of date with bike related issues so could do with some hints or tips to get me back up to speed. (Plus some miles on the clock)

• I'd suggest you look for a Bikesafe in your area, it's a very good for a 1 day assessment.
  
• Come and join in on the ride-outs. Get to ride with others, see how they ride - if you see something you like, have a try yourself. Also you'll have a chance to chat at the stops and at the evening get together.
  
• Ask anything you not sure of, advice ...
  
• Bikers are generally more observant than other road users, maybe something you'd need to be consciously doing in the beginning (till it becomes second nature again)
  

-Steve

[Wild-Kat-Wolf]

Hello and Welcome to the site

I had an alarm in my Cat (it was already fitted when I bought the bike) and removed it after last winter as it decided that it was never going to unimmobilise the bike again - which can be a tad unhelpful if you want to go for a run... though could have been worse I suppose - I might have been for a run and got stuck miles from home!! I wouldn't rush to put an alarm in if I were you, as most have said they seem to cause more hassle than anything. And it never made any difference to my insurance quote either!

Hope to see you out and about soon

Fi

[ellie]

And it never made any difference to my insurance quote either!

Neither does having my bike restricted to 33 bhp!

I spent a year at Hull University a couple of years ago.......Oooo the memories


Welcome aboard, hope you can join a rideout or three!! :whoop:


Ellie

[Guest]

Hi there , welcome to house of fun , when I bought my bike it didn't have an alarm and I have no intention of putting one on - like most people here I just think they are a pain in the a***s - and no it doesn't seem to make a blind bit of difference to the insurance -infact I don't even have a chain for mine ....

[Guest]

I don't even have a chain for mine ....

How does it go then?

[yamahamad]

It is a shaft driven cat.

[Guest]

I don't even have a chain for mine ....

How does it go then?

Well if it doesn't have a chain then they can't ride off on it

[Radar]

Evening.

Just joined the Tcat forum as I have just got back into biking after around 25 years! Had the mid life crisis and bought a second hand YZF600 2 weeks ago. Its a little different from what I remember my 350 YPVS LC used to be like. But then again it my be my aging brain.

Anyway after purchasing the full clothing range from Hein Gericke I am ready for anything. Including the zer / one degree ride into work this morning. (16 miles)

As stated I'm back in the saddle but a bit out of date with bike related issues so could do with some hints or tips to get me back up to speed. (Plus some miles on the clock)

My initial dilemma is whether to get an alarm fitted. Comments please. (I have the chain and disk locks already)

Anyway I'll peruse the site and see what I can find.

Regards Rich.

Welcome to the forum from a fellow former YPVS rider. Alarms are a pain in the arse that only serve to irritate the owner and don't stop your bike being lifted.

I still miss my YPVS...

[Panzerbuilder]

:( Yeah, I have fond memories of my black (1st) and the white (2nd) YPVS. Riding in the wet backwards and forwards to college

I just had a mid life crisis and with some shares burning a hole in my pocket plus some other oppertune circumstances I went out and bought the cat, new helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, chain & lock etc, etc.

I fessed up to the wife yesterday 2 weeks after getting it! She wasn't over the moon but accepted it. And I've still got two of everything I should have!

Today she even mentioned about getting back on the pillion


Mind you she hasn't seen it or heard it yet :yzf:

But one step at a time!

[Guest]

I fessed up to the wife yesterday 2 weeks after getting it! She wasn't over the moon but accepted it. And I've still got two of everything I should have!

now, that reminds me of Sooty who hides (or did!) things in the back of his car, introducing them gradually with the words 'no i've had this ages'

but prize of all has to go to Amos who bought a bike (was it a Bandit?) off fleabay, was waiting for the 'right time' to tell his wife ..... unfortunately that time didn't come before it was delivered on a day he was out at work ....... result ....... a very quiet period in the Reverend Amos' household!!!!

[Radar]

:( Yeah, I have fond memories of my black (1st) and the white (2nd) YPVS. Riding in the wet backwards and forwards to college

I just had a mid life crisis and with some shares burning a hole in my pocket plus some other oppertune circumstances I went out and bought the cat, new helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, chain & lock etc, etc.

I fessed up to the wife yesterday 2 weeks after getting it! She wasn't over the moon but accepted it. And I've still got two of everything I should have!

Today she even mentioned about getting back on the pillion


Mind you she hasn't seen it or heard it yet :yzf:

But one step at a time!

I had a 84 red/white/blue Mk1 (31K) YPVS in 1985 till 87. I had some real fun on that bike...right up to the moment I hit the horsebox...

The I had a 89 F2 brand new for a couple of years, and then I made a return to the 2 stroke fold in 05 for about 12 months with another bitsa YPVS which I rather stupidly sold in 07. Now i want another one! Typical!

Love the bit about not telling the Mrs!

Welcome back to biking...have fun...